Multiple-duct fluid-conducting assembly



July 1, 1958 l. P. DENYSSEN MULTIPLE-DUCT FLUID-CONDUCTING ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 30, 1954 United States Patent MULTIPLE-DUCT FLUID-CONDUCTING ASSEMBLY Ivanhoe P. Denyssen, Marion Station, Pa., assignor to American Viscose Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application December 30, 1954, Serial No. 478,861

1 Claim. (Cl. 18-8) single-passageway members with a multiple-passageway member have not proved satisfactory for the spinning of viscose yarn because of the necessity for providing rotatability of the multiple-passageway member while at the same time having the viscose-conducting system completely free of spaces in which the viscose does not flow freely. Moreover, on account of the need for allotting a minimum of space to such equipment, rigid connections between a rotatable multiple-passageway member and single-passageway members connected thereto are not acceptable because of the necessity for large sections of the single passageway members having to rotate with the multiple passageway member.

Thus, an important object of the present invention is to provide a system comprising a rotatable multiple-passageway member and non-rotatable single-passageway members connected therewith for continuous, pocket-free passage of fluid through the separate continuous passageways of the system as a whole. It is a specific object to provide a rotatable multiple-passageway mounting for a plurality of spinnerets having separate supply passageways and adapted to handle a rapidly congealable liquid such as a viscose solution. A further object is to provide a system in accordance with the foregoing objects in which the supply of filament-forming liquid is shut off during rotation of the multiple-passageway member from a spinning position of the spinnerets to a non-operative position. Other objects, features, and advantages will be apparent from the following description of the invention and the drawing relating thereto in which Fig. 1 is a sectional view taken along the longitudinal axis of apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section view taken along line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified apparatus; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the use of apparatus in accordance with either embodiment as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 when used in the spinning of artificial yarns.

In brief, the present invention consists of apparatus comprising a rotatable member having a plurality of passageways extending lengthwise of the axis of rotation, a support therefor with respect to which the member is journaled, and a housing which connects the member with a plurality of single-passageway ducts equal in number to the passageways of the member. To render each passageway of the member contiguous with a singleice l atented July 1, 1958 passageway duct, the housing has passageways extending therethrough which terminate as ports in a surface in tightly fitting concentric relation with a surface of the member in which terminate the passageways of the member. The openings of the passageways of the member and the ports of the passageways of the housing are arranged along respective surfaces so that at one position of the member the openings of the member occur in registry with the ports of the housing and when the memher is rotated to another position, the same openings are placed again in registry with the ports, but each opening is aligned with a different port than before. A further desirable feature is that the flow of fluid be completely stopped during a predetermined range of rotation during movement of the member from one position to the other.

In a preferred embodiment the invention is employed as an apparatus for supplying viscose solution with a plurality of spinnerets for supplying viscose solution with a plurality of spinnerets supported at the various positions of the member in relatively rigid juxtaposition. In the preferred form, the member has two passageways supplied by a housing having two ports contiguous with the two supply ducts. The member may be considered 'as comprising two additional ducts which are contiguous with those ends of its passageways which are remote from the housing, and extend from the body portion of the member in a radial direction to support the spinnerets along an arcuate ambit.

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate one embodiment of the invention characterized by an elongate member 5 having two passageways 6 and 7 extending therethrough lengthwise of its longitudinal axis but opening separately through a lateral surface 26 of the member 5 adjacent one end thereof, and a sleeve-like housing 8 which has passageways 9 and 10 with respect to which the member may be rotated to bring the termini of its passageways into registry with the ports defining the inner ends of the passageways of the housing. The rotatable member 5 is journaled along an exterior peripheral surface thereof within a bearing 14 rigidly connected to a supporting wall 15 to prevent the member from shifting in an axial direction relative to the bearing 14. The member comprises a shoulder 16 and the housing 8 provides a shoulder 17 which engage opposite ends of the support bearing 14. The length of the member 5 is such that the non-rotatable housing 8 fits neatly between the end surface of the bearing 14 and sleeve portion 20 of the handle 21. It is important, of course, that the housing 8 and the member 5 be held in fixed axial relation so that the openings to the passageways 6 and 7 in the lateral surface of the member may always be rotated into registry with the passageways 9 and 10 of the housing. This relationship is obtained by locating the shoulder 22 along the length of the member at the proper point to seat the sleeve portion 20 of the handle. The handle is secured axiswise to the memher by a nut 23 and'against relative rotation by a key 24.

With reference to Fig. 4, the apparatus of Fig. l is used forsupplying a filament-forming liquid such as a viscose solution to the spinnerets 23 and 29 The ordinary use of the multiple duct system for this purpose would involve rotating the spinnerets from position A to position D through an angle such as At both positions the lateral openings of the passageways of the member 5 are lined squarely with the ports of the housing 8. However, at an angular range defining an intermediate portion of the ambit between the two positions, the liquid supplied through the passageways of the housing 8 is entirely shut off from either of the passageways of the member. This range is illustrated by the angle L measured between positions B and C at which the flowof liquid through the system becomes entirely shut off in moving the member between positions A and D. In

the apparatus as illustrated in Fig. 2, the angle L would be equal to approximately 70. Angles M and N through which the flow of the fluid is changing from zero to maximum, would equal approximately 55 each. These angles, however, may be changed substantially by changing the angular extent of the circumference of the surface 26 of the member and the surface 27 of the housing subtended or cut away by the cooperating ports and openings. For example, while holding the size of the passageways to the same diameter, the diameters of the complementary surfaces 27 and 26 could be substantially increased to reduce the angle occupied by one passageway fromabout 60", as shown, to about 40. Angle L, the range of complete shut-off of the fluid, would thereupon become approximately 100. For example, in using the apparatus of Fig. 4 for extruding viscose into the bath shown and assuming that the spinnerets are to be transferred from position A to position D,the viscose becomes completely shut off as the spinnerets emerge from the bath to reach position B. The spinnerets receive no more liquid until they reach position C whereupon viscose starts flowing again through the passageways of the system and the flow thereof is gradually increased until position D is reached, at this position the spinnerets overhang a waste-receiving container 31. As the viscose filamentforming material does not drop immediately away from the spinneret, it is pendently supported from the spinnerets until the spinnerets have reached the position D. Thus, no viscose is dropped into the bath supported within the container 32. It is obvious, of course, that in changing the position of the spinnerets from A to D or vice versa, each passageway of the member receives viscose from one passageway of the housing at one position, and then from the other passageway of the housing at the other position.

In moving the spinnerets from position D to position A, extrusion of the filament-forming material is occurring at a normal rate as the movement is commenced at D. At the start of the movement it is desirable for the operator to sever the streams extending to the waste container closely to the spinnerets. Shut-ofl occurs at C but short lengths of extruded material continue to hang from the spinnerets as they are lowered into the bath and passed by position D whereat extrusion continues again, and on reaching the position A, the coagulated extrusion "product floating in the bath and connected with the spinnerets may be seized for lacing other equipment not shown.

Fig. 3 illustrates a modified apparatus in longitudinal section which functions in substantially the same manner portion 42 of the handle 43, and a shoulder 45 which function as end thrust hearings in cooperation with end surfaces of the bearing 31. The housing 38 has connectors 46 and 47 by which the apparatus may be connected with flexible or non-flexible single passageway ducts such as conventional tubes or pipes. In employing the invention for the spinning of rayon yarn, such tubes would supply viscose or other filament-forming material to the assembly of Fig. 3. The housing 38 is held nonrotatable with respect to the wall 49 and the bearing 41 connected therewith by a bracket 51 extending between and attached to the housing and to the Wall by means such as the screws shown. The surfaces 36 and 35 are carefully ground to fit accurately and to thus provide an efficient seal when the housing is urged'under substantial pressure against the end surface of the mem- In the previously described her 37. Such pressure may be obtained, for example, by means of a stud 53 anchored in the member 37, a spring 54, a washer 55 and a nut 56. As the housing is recessed to receive the end portion of the member 37, further sealing of the housing with respect to the member may be obtained by the provision of a washer 58 having circular cross-section in a plane. parallel to its axis and comprising dense resilient material such as neoprene. The washer is held within an annular groove extending within the axially-extending cylindrical surface of the recess of the housing. The embodiment of Fig. 3, with respect to the spinneret-supporting tubes 61 and 62, may be constructed in the same manner as shown and described with respect to the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

It has been discovered that apparatus constructed as herein described and claimed may be readily employed as a part of spinning equipment in spite of the fact that positive displacement gear pumps are conventionally used to supply filament-forming liquids to spinnerets. It is found that no damage results as long as the rotatable multiple passageway member is rotated rapidly through the shut-off range represented as angle L of Fig. 4. However, in such a system, damage can be avoided, in the event the rotatable member is stopped with the spinnerets disposed within the range of angle L, by provision of a conventional safety release device in each of the lines for supplying the liquid to the rotatable member.

The present invention is adapted for use in many diverse fields in which it is desired to transfer separate streams of fluid along the same general, but movable, path. However it is especially useful in feeding a rapidlycongealable liquid to spinnerets because of the freedom of the apparatus from interior spaces or pockets allowing the sluggish movement of liquid. Moreover, the invention as herein described and illustrated is economical of space and permits the deployment of many plural-duct units in closely-spaced relationship such as required in the spinning of yarns of synthetic filaments.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

I claim: I

In an improved spinning machine comprising a trough containing an acidic coagulating bath, a row of spinnerets designed to be immersed in said bath for the spinning of filaments therein, and a supply of viscose or other spinning solution to be extruded through said spinnerets, the improvement comprising an improved spinneret arrangement and means for temporarily shutting off the flow of viscose from the spinnerets as they are withdrawn from the bath through an arc over the bath, said means comprising a stationaryconduit extending through the side of the spinning trough and journalled therein, a pair of inlet ports in the sides of said conduit positioned directly opposite each other, means for admitting viscose to said ports, a cylindrical plug rotatably fitted into said conduit, a pair of parallel ducts extending through said plug and terminating adjacent the ports in said conduit so as to register with said ports when the spinnerets hereinafter recited are ,in spinn ing position, a pair of spinnerets, means connecting ,said spinnerets to the other extremity of said ducts so that there is always open communication between said ducts and said spinnerets, and means for rotating said plug and attached spinnerets so as to raise the latter in a .are out of their normal spinning position in the bath,

with the ports during the latter portion of the 180 swing so as to resume flow through the spinneret as soon as the latter clears the bath.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 253,405 Maxfield Feb. 7, 1882 

